Tips for selling a car that has been in an accident

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When you’re selling a used car, there are a few questions you’ll likely hear from most potential customers. Was the vehicle well-maintained? Does it have unfixed safety recalls? Has it been in an accident?

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Selling a car with accident history can be challenging, depending on how you present the history, as well as how you frame the information. Damage history doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker, but you should be transparent about the history and provide specific information about the damage that occurred. You should also be sure to detail how it was repaired, and use it as an opportunity to present your vehicle as a great deal.

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Be honest about accident history

Be upfront about damage history and show that you’re a seller who can be trusted. Provide detailed information about the damage that occurred – maybe it was a parking lot fender-bender, or perhaps it was something a bit more serious – either way, it’s your responsibility to let your buyer know. Show them the repair records and the vehicle history report. Another way to form trust is to encourage the buyer to bring these documents during a  pre-purchase inspection  to ensure confidence in the safety of the car.

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Document any damage to the vehicle

Selling a car that has been in an accident without disclosing the damage puts you at risk for legal action from the buyer. If a person buys a car and later discovers that it’s been in an accident, you could end up with charges pressed against you.

To avoid this, get a vehicle history report and keep track of any damage a vehicle has sustained – walk the buyer through this information and make sure they understand it, and include paper copies with the rest of their sales forms.

Decide whether to repair the vehicle

Selling a vehicle with unrepaired damage is difficult, though not impossible. It is much easier to sell a vehicle that’s in tip-top shape, but if you’re planning to sell it without repairing the damage, make sure to adjust your price accordingly.

Provide a vehicle history report

A CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report can be a buyer’s top resource for information about a vehicle. Providing this resource before the buyer has to ask can be a big help in proving you’re a trustworthy seller.

This article was originally published on CARFAX Canada ; the country’s definitive source of automotive information, delivering vehicle history and valuation.